Nourishing and Clear Chicken Soup (Dak Gomtang)
How to Make Dak Gomtang, a Nutritious Korean Chicken Soup, with a Spicy Dipping Sauce
With the significant temperature difference between morning and evening, it feels like cold season is here! Nothing beats a nourishing homemade meal when you feel under the weather. We decided to make Dak Gomtang today, a classic Korean chicken soup. Simmering a whole chicken until tender and shredding the meat to serve with its flavorful broth makes for a perfect meal that will warm you up and help ward off colds. Enjoy a hearty bowl!
Dak Gomtang Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken (skin removed)
- 1 handful jujubes (about 10-15)
- 1 ginseng root
- 1 medium onion
- 1 large leek
- 1/4 Korean radish (about 150g)
Spicy Dak Gomtang Dipping Sauce
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 ladleful Dak Gomtang broth
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Korean green chili (finely chopped, adjust to taste)
- 2 Tbsp gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 ladleful Dak Gomtang broth
- Pinch of black pepper
- 1 Korean green chili (finely chopped, adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Thoroughly rinse the skinless chicken under cold running water to remove any impurities. (You can ask your butcher to remove the skin when purchasing.) Removing excess fat will contribute to a clearer broth.
Step 2
Place the prepared chicken into a large pot. Add the jujubes (1 handful), ginseng root (1), leek (1, washed and kept whole), onion (1, cut into large chunks), and Korean radish (1/4, cut into large pieces). Cover with enough water to submerge the ingredients. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 40 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is very tender and the broth is flavorful.
Step 3
While the chicken is simmering, prepare the spicy dipping sauce. In a small bowl, combine gochugaru (2 Tbsp), minced garlic (1 Tbsp), soy sauce (1 Tbsp), a ladleful of the Dak Gomtang broth, a pinch of black pepper, and finely chopped Korean green chili (1, optional). Mix well. If the sauce is too thick, add a little more broth to reach your desired consistency.
Step 4
Once the chicken is fully cooked, carefully remove it from the pot and let it cool slightly. Once it’s cool enough to handle, shred the chicken meat into bite-sized pieces. Separating the meat from the bones now will make serving easier later.
Step 5
Keep the chicken broth simmering gently over low heat. For a richer flavor, you can return the reserved chicken bones to the pot and continue to simmer. If the broth reduces too much, gradually add a little warm water to maintain your preferred level.
Step 6
Finely chop the green onion. This will be a fresh, aromatic garnish for your Dak Gomtang.
Step 7
Once you have the tender shredded chicken and the clear, flavorful broth, it’s time to assemble your Dak Gomtang. Ladle the soup generously into bowls for a comforting and visually appealing dish.
Step 8
For an even clearer broth, you can strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve before serving. This removes any small particles, resulting in a beautifully transparent soup.
Step 9
Generously add the shredded chicken meat to the soup. A hearty portion of tender chicken makes this dish truly satisfying.
Step 10
Finally, garnish with the chopped green onions. Your delicious homemade Dak Gomtang is now ready to be enjoyed!
Step 11
We’re serving our Dak Gomtang today with the prepared spicy dipping sauce and a fresh side of spicy scallion salad (buchu geotjeori). The zesty salad complements the richness of the chicken soup.
Step 12
You can mix the spicy sauce directly with the shredded chicken for a spicy kick, but since we have young children, we prefer to let everyone customize their own bowl by adding the sauce to their liking. The children enjoy it as is, while adults can add the sauce for a spicier flavor.
Step 13
We hope this warm and nourishing bowl of Dak Gomtang helps keep you healthy and ward off any colds this season! Enjoy this hearty meal and stay well!
